Building resilient regional and remote Queensland communities.
Our Stories
QCoal Foundation Targets Social Isolation with Happy Paws Happy Hearts in Mackay
QCoal Foundation recently awarded Happy Paws Happy Hearts (HPHH) with a Community Growth grant for their innovative program, “Providing Skill Development and Social Connection.” The program is designed to provide animal-assisted therapy to individuals affected by social isolation, which can help combat the negative effects of loneliness and disconnection.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, social isolation is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. It can also increase the risk of suicide and substance abuse. Through our work in regional and remote Queensland we know that supporting mental health is key to building resilient communities.
We were impressed by HPHH’s partnership with RSPCA Queensland to provide a unique animal-assisted therapy program, that provides an opportunity for participants to interact with animals and other like-minded individuals, providing a sense of companionship, emotional support, and skill development.
Our funding will be used to sponsor five places for participants to take part in a 20-week program at RSPCA QLD’s Mackay Animal Centre.
The QCoal Foundation Community Grant Program has been established to encourage community-led initiatives to improve liveability, health and education in communities throughout regional and remote Queensland.
